Restraining springs for rate



RESTRAINING SPRINGS FOR RATE GYROSCOPES Filed Dec. 29. 1948 Hen INVENTOR.

ROBE/57' 7. M14/GRAN Y ABY Y Hrm/ver' Patented Feb. 12, 1952 RESTRAINING .SPRINGS FOR RATE GYROSCOPES Robert T. Maioranypronx, N. Y., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, Teterboro, N. J., a corporationof Delaware i Application December 29, 194s, serial No. 67,979

9 claims. (ol. 'i4-5.4)

This invention relates to gyroscopes and more particularly to restraining springs for rate gyroscopes.

An object of my present invention is to provide a novel restraining spring arrangement for a rate gyroscope by which the precession of the gyroscope and return to its initial position is maintained at a uniform rate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a restraining spring arrangement for a rate gyroscope of the character indicated in which adjustments may be readily made for refining the null setting of the gyroscope and to increase the sensitivity thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a restraining spring arrangement for a rate gyroscope of the character indicated which shall conv sist of few and simple parts, relatively inexpeny sive to manufacture, which shall be positive and accurate in operation, which shall have a large variety of application and yet be practical and ecient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which one embodiment of my invention is illustrated, and wherein similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig. l is a front elevational view with portions shown in cross-section of thenovel restraining spring arrangement for a rate gyroscope,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of an eccentrically mounted roller for adjustment of the null setting of the gyroscope, while,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cantilever spring and its adjustable mounting.

The several objects of my invention are achieved by providing a mounting block on a gimbal frame trunnion journaled in the instrument casing and passing therethrough; the block being mounted exteriorly of the instrument casing. Two cantilever springs are adjustably mounted on the block, the inner faces of the springs coacting with an eccentrically mounted roller fixed into the casing of the instrument. By adjusting the lengths of the two cantilever springs, the precessional rate of the gyroscope may be regulated. The eccentric mounting of the roller engaged by the cantilever springs provides a means for setting the null position of the gyroscope.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the numeral I designates the novel restraining spring arrangement xed exteriorly of the gyroscope casing Il to a gimbal frame'trunnio'n I2. trunnion is journaled through a bearing `I3 mounted in the instrument casing The trunnion l2 is iiXed to a gimbal frame Hiwithin the casing, the gimbal frame carrying a gyroscope rotor I 5.

The spring arrangement vII) comprises a bifurcated block I6 which slips over the .trunnion I2 and is fastened thereto by a recessed screw.. I7. The bifurcated block I6 is T-shaped, the free'jj end of the block acting as a counterweight.V Fixed to the free end of the block llvand withina recess Ilia therein, as by screws 8, washers' I9l and plates 20 are two cantilever springs 2| .andv The plates 20 are provided with elongated' slots 23 through which the screws I8 pass for` fastening the cantilever springs to the block. I6..` As will hereinafter more fully appear, the plates 20 may be moved radially inwardly or outwardly A to independently adjust the effective lengthsbflI the cantilever springs'Z'I and 22. y

The inner faces of the springs 2| andu22 are adapted to coact with aroller 25 rotatably mounted on a stud shaft 26. The shaft 26 is inategral and concentric with a nut 28, said nut being eccentrically mounted to the casing by a screw 30. It is to be of the roller 25 isslightly larger than the width of the bifurcated block IB so that the block simultaneously exertstension on both of the springs, when gimbal frame i4 is in neutral position. This;v

arrangement of the block and roller will permitlv a slight bias to be exerted by the springs 2| and 22 f for maintaining the gimbal frame I4 in its nulloi.'v

neutral position.

Procession of the gyroscope I5 will cause the tion of the trunnion, will increase the bias exerted thereby on the roller 25 to return the gyroscope to its neutral position. By providing the roller 25, the friction between the two elements is practically nil, The eccentric mounting of the roller 25 provides a readily accessible means for obtaining a rened adjustment of the null position of the gyroscope I5. The arrangement of the two cantilever springs, the inner faces of which register with the roller provides a uniform rate of precession and return of the gyroscope.

The uniform rate of precession and return of the gyroscope is extremely desirable in instances where a rate signal is obtained by the use of the pick-up coils fixed to the gimbal frame of the gyroscope. This uniformity reduces the hys- The.,

noted that the diameterf teresis normally found in rate signal developing gyroscopes having other spring arrangements.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a restraining spring arrangement for a rate gyroscope in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the 'conditions of 'practical use.

As various'embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as various changes may be made in the embodiment above set forth, it will l,

be understood that all matter herein'descrilcfedfj or shown in the accompanying drawings is to "be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Restraining springs for'ia cased-rategyiwscope comprising a mounting block exter-lorly of 1 the case and movable with the gimbal frame of the gyroscope, two spacedpantilever springs fixed ato`ne 'endtheref' in opposingl relationship to said blockfand havl'ngtheir other ends free to move"1elative to one'an'other and a -rollerl muntd'exteriorly of thegyi'oscope casca-nd enga'gin'g opposing faces 'of "said springs.

2. Restraining springs for a cased rate gyroscope'L comprising a mounting block movable with th""gimbal"frame"of the gyroscope,A two cantilevifs'prigs fixed atione'endthe'reof in opposing reli'it'ionship"` top saidfblo'ckf'means foradjusting the"`ectlvelen'gth`s of said springs, and a roller engaging'opposing faces of said springs Yand eccentii'cally "mountedfon the gyroscope case to adilstc the 'neutralpo'sition of the gyroscope,

3. Restrai'ning springs* for a rate gyr'oscope comprising a mounting block movable with the glinbalfrafme of 'the gyroscope, two cantilever springs fixed'a't one end thereof in opposing relationship to lsaid block, means for independently adjusting l` the eifectivelengths of'said springs, and a roller mountedon a fixed support and engag'ingopposing faces o f said springs.

4. Restraining" springs" for a rate gyroscope comprisnga mounting block'movable with the gimbalframe of thei"gyroscope,` two spaced cantilever' spilnfg's'iixed at one endthereof in opposing relationship tosaidblock, means for independentlyjadjustlng the effective lengths of said springs,'and"a roller mounted'on a xed support and"engagir`ig`pposing faces of said springs, the dini'eterjofsald'roller being greater than the distarc'ef'between'V 'said 'springs measured at said block', fandsaid 'roller simultaneously exerting tension n' both of-s'aid springs when said gimbal frame is in arneutral position.

5. Restai'ning spring'sfor'a casedrate gyroscope 'comprising a' mounting block movable withv thef-girnbalframe of' the 'gyroscope, two spaced cantilever fspri'ng'sfiixd at one end thereof in opposing relationship to said block, means for adjusting the eiiective lengths of said springs, and a, roller eccentrically mounted to the gyroscope case and engaging opposing faces of said springs, the diameter of said roller being greater than the distance between said springs measured at said block,` and said roller 'simultaneously exerting tension onboth of said springs when said gimbal frame is in a neutral position.

6. In an angular rate gyroscope having gimbal meansf'and supporting means therefor, a pair of spaced opposing cantilever springs on one of said means, and a roller on said other means engag'ing said springsan'd simultaneously exerting tension on'both Aof said springs when said gimbal means is in a neutral position relative to said supporting lmeans;

7. In an angular rate gyroscope having gimbal means and supporting means therefor, a pair of spaced opposing cantilever springs on one of said means each having' oneend free, and a roller on said'other'meanspositione'd between said springs adjacent saild free ends and engaging opposing faces-'of said springs#- 8. 'In'anv angularfrate gyroscope having gimbal means and supporting vmeans therefor, a pair of cantilever springson one of said means, a roller on said other means engaging'said springs, and means'for lindependently adjusting the leffective lengths of said springs.-

9. Inan angular rate gyroscope'having gimbal means and-supporting means therefor, a pair of spaced opposing cantilever "springs on one of said means, and a single element on' said other means engaging opposing faces of -said springs and movable `'transversely thereof to adjust said gimbal meansrto' neutral position relative to said supporting' means.

ROBERT "1'. MAIORANY.

RixensartNCESV CITED The following references are of record in the le of'this patentz' llTNI'IEDY STATES PATENTS 

